Gesture controllable machine-readable symbol reader systems and methods, with head worn interface

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for capturing machine-readable symbols using a finger mounted indicia. The system includes an image sensor that captures a plurality of images from the field of view of the image sensor. An occurrence of a gesture is detected in the plurality of images, in which the gesture is represented by a trace of a number of movements of a finger mounted indicia. In response to detecting the occurrence of the gesture, an at least attempt is triggered to decode one or more machine-readable symbols represented in the images. The gesture may be used to indicate a region of interest that includes the machine-readable symbol. Such indication may improve the efficiency and processing time needed to detect and decode a machine-readable symbol.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to automatic data collection, includingmachine-readable symbol readers, with a head worn interface, that detectand decode machine-readable symbols, including machine-readable symbolsborne by objects within an environment surrounding a user.

BACKGROUND Description of the Related Art

There are numerous examples of machine-readable symbol readers in use ina variety of environments, for example in retail, warehouse andlogistics environments. These machine-readable symbol readers are usedto read various types of machine-readable symbols carried by, inscribedon, or otherwise borne by various types of items or objects, or evenhumans and other animals. The machine-readable symbols typically takethe form of either one-dimensional machine-readable symbols (e.g.,barcode symbols) or two-dimensional machine-readable symbols (e.g., areaor matrix code symbols). Machine-readable symbols are based onmachine-readable symbologies (e.g., Code 39, Code 128, EAN13, Code 93,DataMatrix, PDF 417, QR Code) which define respective mappings betweenareas of high and low reflectance and human understandable characters(e.g., alphanumeric, extended ASCII).

Many machine-readable symbol readers are hand-held by an operator duringuse. These hand-held machine-readable symbol readers are typicallygripped in the hand of the operator and aimed at an object or amachine-readable symbol carried by an object. Hand-held machine-readablesymbol readers typically rely on a portable power source to operate, forexample rechargeable or secondary battery cells. In order to reducepower consumption, hand-held machine-readable symbol readers typicallyhave a trigger which the operator selectively actuates (e.g., depressesor pulls) to cause the hand-held machine-readable symbol reader to scanor capture an image of a region in a field-of-view of the hand-heldmachine-readable symbol reader. The scanning or image capture results ina representation of the field-of-view. The hand-held machine-readablesymbol reader then attempts to identify machine-readable symbols in therepresentation, and optionally decode those identified machine-readablesymbols. Many hand-held machine-readable symbol readers are capable ofrecognizing and decoding machine-readable symbols from two or moredifferent symbologies.

Conventional hand-held machine-readable symbol readers occupy at leastone of an operator's hands, and may be bulky and difficult to use. Inaddition, the conventional machine-readable symbol readers may operateinefficiently, such as, for example, by scanning or capturing imagesthat contain significantly more of the surrounding environment (e.g.,area) than the machine-readable symbol to be detected and decoded.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Wearable image sensors may be used to scan or capture machine-readablesymbols within the environment surrounding a user. In someimplementations, the wearable image sensors may be mounted on a helmet,headband, goggles, or eyeglass frame that may be worn on the head of auser. As such, the portion of the environment captured by the wearableimage sensor may be changed by moving the head of the user. In suchinstances, a need may arise to improve the power consumption efficiencyof operation of the machine-readable symbol reader, analogous in somerespects to the addition of the trigger to hand-held machine-readablesymbol readers. In such instances, a need may additionally oralternatively arise to improve a computational efficiency of operationof the machine-readable symbol reader, analogous in some respects to theaddition of an aiming beam to hand-held machine-readable symbol readers.To do so, the machine-readable symbol reader may advantageously detect afinger mounted indicia worn by an operator and that may be used tocontrol operation of the head worn image sensor, and/or to indicateand/or delineate the machine-readable symbol to be captured.

A system that reads machine-readable symbols may be summarized asincluding: at least one wearable image sensor having a field of view,the field of view moveable to selectively encompass respective portionsof an environment with movement of the at least image sensor, the atleast one image sensor which in operation captures images of therespective portions of the environment within the field of view of theat least one image sensor; a control system that is communicativelycoupled to the at least one image sensor to receive signalsrepresentative of the images, the control system which: detects anoccurrence of a first gesture in the images, the first gesturerepresented by a trace of a number of movements of a first fingermounted indicia; and in response to detection of the occurrence of thefirst gesture, triggers an at least attempt at decoding one or moremachine-readable symbols represented in the images. In someimplementations, each of one or more combinations of gestures involvingone or both of a first finger mounted indicia and a second fingermounted indicia may be used to trigger a defined function, operation,and/or application, or even additional finger mounted indicia on fingersof one or two hands. As such, the first finger mounted indicia may belocated on a first finger, and the second finger mounted indicia may bemounted on a second finger in which the second finger may be on the sameor on the opposite hand as the first finger. In some implementations, acombination of gestures or positions by both the first finger mountedindicia and the second finger mounted indicia may be used to trigger adefined function, operation, and/or application.

The control system may include a first processor and at least a secondprocessor, the first processor having a lower rated power consumptionthan a rated power consumption of the second processor, and wherein totrigger an at least attempt at decoding one or more machine-readablesymbols represented in the images the first processor may provide anactivation signal to activate the second processor. To activate thesecond processor, the first processor may provide a wake signal thatwakes the second processor from a relative lower power state to arelatively higher power state. The at least one image sensor may includea first image sensor and a second image sensor, the first image sensorhaving a lower rated power consumption than a rated power consumption ofthe second processor, and to trigger an at least attempt at decoding oneor more machine-readable symbols represented in the images the firstprocessor may provide a signal that activates the second image sensor tocapture images of the portion of the environment. A respective field ofview of the second image sensor may be co-extensive with a respectivefield of view of the first image sensor. The system may further include:at least one light source, and wherein in response to detection of theoccurrence of the first gesture, the control system may cause the atleast one light source to emit illumination. In triggering an at leastattempt at decoding the control system may trigger a transition from arelatively lower power consumption state to a relatively higher powerconsumption state, and after an attempted decode the control system maytrigger a return to the relatively lower power state. The control systemmay include at least one processor and at least one non-transitoryprocessor-readable storage medium that stores at least one ofprocessor-executable instructions or data that, when executed by the atleast one processor, cause the at least one processor to: detect thefirst finger mounted indicia in the images and determine a shape of thetrace of the first finger mounted indicia in the images. The firstfinger mounted indicia may be a first finger mounted machine-readablesymbol, and the at least one of processor-executable instructions ordata, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the atleast one processor to: detect the first finger mounted machine-readablesymbol in the images. The first finger mounted indicia may be a firstfinger mounted one-dimensional machine-readable symbol, and the at leastone of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by theat least one processor, may cause the at least one processor to: detectthe first finger mounted one-dimensional machine-readable symbol in theimages. There may be at least one object in the environment which bearsat least one two-dimensional machine-readable symbol, and the at leastone of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed by theat least one processor, may cause the at least one processor to: attemptto decode the object-borne two-dimensional machine-readable symbol inthe images. The at least one of processor-executable instructions ordata, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the atleast one processor to detect an amount of skew along a longitudinalaxis of the first finger mounted one-dimensional machine-readable symbolin the images. The first finger mounted indicia may be a first fingermounted non-perceptible digital watermark that is not perceptible by ahuman, and the at least one of processor-executable instructions ordata, when executed by the at least one processor, may cause the atleast one processor to: detect the first finger mounted non-perceptibledigital watermark in the images. The first finger mounted indicia may beat least a first finger mounted light source or at least a first fingermounted retro-reflector, and the at least one of processor-executableinstructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor, maycause the at least one processor to: detect the first finger mountedlight source or the first finger mounted retro-reflector in the images.The first finger mounted indicia may be at least a first finger mountedindicia that does not encode information, and the at least one ofprocessor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at leastone processor, may cause the at least one processor to: detect the firstfinger mounted indicia that does not encode information in the images.The at least one of processor-executable instructions or data, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, may cause the at least oneprocessor to: determine which of a plurality of defined functions isindicated by the gesture based at least in part on the determined shapeof the trace of the first finger mounted indicia in the images. The atleast one of processor-executable instructions or data, when executed bythe at least one processor, may cause the at least one processor toexecute respective ones of each of a plurality of defined functions inresponse to successive ones of a plurality of gestures detected in theimages. The system may further include a hand wearable element thatbears the first finger mounted indicia. The hand wearable element may bea glove that includes a base and at least one finger portion, the atleast one finger portion which extends outwardly from the base and whichis sized and shaped to at least partially surround a human finger, thefirst finger mounted indicia borne on the finger portion of the glove.The at least one image sensor may be carried by an augmented realityheadset wearable by an operator of the system and the first fingermounted indicia may be carried by a finger of the operator of thesystem. The control system may further: in response to detection of theoccurrence of the first gesture, search a region of interest for one ormore machine-readable symbols, the region of interest which is withinthe field of view of the at least one wearable image sensor.

A method of operation of a system that reads machine-readable symbols,the system which includes at least one wearable image sensor having afield of view, the at least one image sensor which in operation capturesimages of an environment, may be summarized as including: capturing bythe at least one image sensor a plurality of images of the respectiveportions of the environment within the field of view of the imagesensor; detecting by at least one processor an occurrence of a firstgesture in the plurality of images, the first gesture represented by atrace of a number of movements of a first finger mounted indicia; and inresponse to detecting the occurrence of the first gesture, triggering anat least attempt by the at least one processor to decode one or moremachine-readable symbols represented in the images.

The at least one processor may include a first processor and a secondprocessor, the first processor having a lower rated power consumptionthan a rated power consumption of the second processor, and the methodmay further include: generating an activation signal by the firstprocessor; and transmitting the activation signal to the secondprocessor to activate the second processor. Transmitting the activationsignal by the first processor may further include transmitting a wakesignal that wakes the second processor from a relatively lower powerstate to a relatively higher power state. The at least one image sensormay include a first image sensor and a second image sensor, the firstimage sensor having a lower rated power consumption than a rated powerconsumption of the second processor, and the method may further include:transmitting an activation signal to the second image sensor to captureimages of the portion of the environment. The system may include atleast one light source, and the method may further include: in responseto detecting the occurrence of the first gesture, transmitting one ormore signals that cause the at least one light source to emitillumination. Triggering an at least attempt by the at least oneprocessor to decode may include triggering a transition from arelatively lower power consumption state to a relatively higher powerconsumption state, and after the at least attempt to decode, triggeringa return to the relatively lower power state. The method may furtherinclude: detecting the first finger mounted indicia in at least one ofthe plurality of images. The finger mounted indicia may include a firstfinger mounted machine-readable symbol, and detecting the first fingermounted indicia may further include detecting the first finger mountedmachine-readable symbol in at least one of the plurality of images. Thefinger mounted indicia may include a first finger mountedone-dimensional machine-readable symbol, and detecting the first fingermounted indicia may further include detecting the first finger mountedone-dimensional machine-readable symbol in at least one of the pluralityof images. There may be at least one object in the environment whichbears at least one two-dimensional machine-readable symbol, andtriggering an at least attempt by the at least one processor to decodefurther may further include triggering an attempt to decode theobject-borne two-dimensional machine-readable symbol in the plurality ofimages. The method may further include: detecting by the at least oneprocessor an amount of skew along a longitudinal axis of the firstfinger mounted one-dimensional machine-readable symbol in the images.The finger mounted indicia may include a first finger mountednon-perceptible digital watermark that is not perceptible by a human,and detecting the first finger mounted indicia may further includedetecting the first finger mounted non-perceptible digital watermark inat least one of the plurality of images. The finger mounted indicia mayinclude at least a first finger mounted light source or at least a firstfinger mounted retro-reflector, and detecting the first finger mountedindicia may further include detecting the at least a first fingermounted light source or the at least a first finger mountedretro-reflector in at least one of the plurality of images. The fingermounted indicia may include a first finger mounted indicia that does notencode information, and detecting the first finger mounted indicia mayfurther include detecting the first finger mounted indicia that does notencode information in at least one of the plurality of images. Themethod may further include: determining which of a plurality of definedfunctions is indicated by the first gesture based at least in part onthe determined shape of the trace of the first finger mounted indicia inthe plurality of images. The method may further include: executingrespective ones of each of a plurality of defined functions in responseto successive ones of a plurality of gestures detected in the pluralityof images. A hand wearable element may bear the first finger mountedindicia, and detecting by at least one processor an occurrence of afirst gesture may further include detecting by the at least oneprocessor an occurrence of the first gesture in the plurality of images,the first gesture represented by a trace of a number of movements of thefirst finger mounted indicia which is mounted on the hand wearableelement. The hand wearable element may be a glove that includes a baseand at least one finger portion, the at least one finger portion whichextends outwardly from the base and which is sized and shaped to atleast partially surround a human finger, the first finger mountedindicia borne on the finger portion of the glove, and detecting by atleast one processor an occurrence of a first gesture may further includedetecting by the at least one processor an occurrence of the firstgesture in the plurality of images, the first gesture represented by atrace of a number of movements of the first finger mounted indicia borneon the finger portion of the glove. The method may further include: inresponse to detecting the occurrence of the first gesture, searching aregion of interest for one or more machine-readable symbols, the regionof interest which is within the field of view of the at least onewearable image sensor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not necessarily drawn to scale, and some ofthese elements may be arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improvedrawing legibility. Further, the particular shapes of the elements asdrawn, are not necessarily intended to convey any information regardingthe actual shape of the particular elements, and may have been solelyselected for ease of recognition in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system that captures and attempts todecode machine-readable symbols in which the system includes a wearableimage sensor and a finger mounted indicia, according to at least oneillustrated implementation.

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a glove that includes a finger mountedindicia that is comprised of a machine-readable symbol, according to atleast one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a glove that includes a finger mountedindicia that is comprised of a symbol that does not encode information,according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a glove that includes a finger mountedindicia that is comprised of one of a finger mounted light source and afinger mounted retro-reflector, according to at least one illustratedimplementation.

FIG. 2D is a schematic diagram of a glove that includes a finger mountedindicia that is comprised of a digital watermark, according to at leastone illustrated implementation.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram in which a skew of a finger mountedindicia is determined and used to identify the machine-readable symbolon an object that is proximate the finger mounted indicia, according toat least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram in which a skew of a finger mountedindicia is determined and used to identify the machine-readable symbolon an object that is distal to the finger mounted indicia, according toat least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram in which a distance of a finger mountedindicia from an image sensor is determined and used to identify themachine-readable symbol on an object that is proximate the fingermounted indicia, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 3D is a schematic diagram in which a distance of a finger mountedindicia from an image sensor is determined and used to identify themachine-readable symbol on an object that is distal to the fingermounted indicia, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a gesture that is represented by anumber of movements of a finger mounted indicia, according to at leastone illustrated implementation.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram that shows an ultra-low power processor andultra-low power imager that may be used to provide a trigger, and ageneral purpose processor and a second imager used to decode amachine-readable image, according to at least one illustratedimplementation.

FIG. 6A is a schematic diagram of a processor that detects an occurrenceof a gesture within images captured by an ultra-low power imager thattriggers the processor to attempt to detect and decode amachine-readable symbol within a field of view of a second imager,according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 6B is a schematic diagram that shows the processor of FIG. 6B inwhich the processor detects and attempts to decode the machine readablesymbol within images captured by a second imager, according to at leastone illustrated implementation.

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram of a glove that includes a first fingermounted indicia on one side of a finger, and a set of one or more lightsources on an opposing side of the finger of the glove, according to atleast one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 7B is a schematic diagram of the one or more light sources on theopposing side of the finger of the glove of FIG. 7A, according to atleast one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram in which the lights sources on the fingerportion of the glove of FIGS. 7A and 7B are deactivated when no portionof the glove is within a field of view of a wearable image sensor,according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 8B is a schematic diagram in which the light sources on the fingerportion of the glove of FIGS. 7A and 7B are activated when at least aportion of the glove is within the field of view of the wearable imagesensor, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a wearable augmented reality displaythat provides a visual indication that is related to an object in anenvironment surrounding the augmented reality display, according to atleast one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system that may be used todetect and attempt to decode a captured image of a machine-readablesymbol, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 11 is a logic flow diagram of a method of detecting and attemptingto decode a machine-readable symbol within a set of images, according toat least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 12 is a logic flow diagram of a method of capturing a first set ofimages to detect an occurrence of a gesture, and detecting amachine-readable symbol with in a second set of images, according to atleast one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 13 is a logic flow diagram of a method of controlling a set oflight sources based upon a location of a finger mounted indicia relativeto a field of view of an image sensor, according to at least oneillustrated implementation.

FIG. 14 is a logic flow diagram of a method of detecting an occurrenceof a gesture and executing a function associated with the detectedgesture, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

FIG. 15 is a logic flow diagram of a method of identifying a function orobject based upon an amount of skew detected for a finger mountedindicia, according to at least one illustrated implementation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedimplementations. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat implementations may be practiced without one or more of thesespecific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. Inother instances, well-known structures associated with scan engines,imagers, decoding circuitry, and/or machine-readable symbol readers havenot been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuringdescriptions of the implementations.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims that follow, the word “comprising” is synonymous with“including,” and is inclusive or open-ended (i.e., does not excludeadditional, unrecited elements or method acts).

Reference throughout this specification to “one implementation” or “animplementation” means that a particular feature, structure orcharacteristic described in connection with the implementation isincluded in at least one implementation. Thus, the appearances of thephrases “in one implementation” or “in an implementation” in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same implementation. Furthermore, the particular features,structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner inone or more implementations.

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singularforms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise. It should also be noted that the term “or”is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the contextclearly dictates otherwise.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theimplementations.

FIG. 1 shows a system 100 that detects and attempts to decodemachine-readable symbols, such as a machine-readable symbol 102, inwhich the system 100 includes a wearable image sensor 104, a fingermounted indicia 106, and a control system 108, according to at least oneillustrated implementation. The machine-readable symbol 102 may be asymbol that is attached to, printed on, inscribed, or otherwise bornealong a surface of an object 110. Such machine-readable symbols 102 mayinclude, for example, machine-readable symbols 102 that are printeddirectly on the surface of the object 110 and machine-readable symbols102 that are printed onto a label that is physically attached to theobject 110. In some implementations, the machine-readable symbol 102 mayinclude one-dimensional machine-readable symbols (e.g., barcode symbols)and/or two-dimensional machine-readable symbols (e.g., Quick Responsesymbols). In some implementations, the machine-readable symbol 102 mayinclude symbols that are not perceptible to humans but may be detectedand decoded by the wearable image sensor 104 and/or control system 108.Such symbols may include, for example, digital watermarks.

The wearable image sensor 104 may be comprised of a wearable article 112and at least one image sensor 114. Such a wearable article 112 mayinclude any articles of clothing or other objects that may be wearableby a user. In some implementations, the wearable article 112 mayinclude, for example, a pair of glasses or eyeglass frame, a helmet, aset of goggles, a hat, a visor, a headband, a vest, and/or a belt. Theat least one image sensor 114 may capture an electronic representationof an image in which the image is comprised of a portion of asurrounding environment 116. Such an electronic representation may bemade, for example, by a set of transducers that convert light waves intoelectrical signals. The at least one image sensor 114 may be orientedalong the wearable article 112 such that a field of view 118 of the atleast one image sensor 114 is directed towards a portion of thesurrounding environment 116 that a user faces when the user is wearingthe wearable image sensor 104. In some implementations, the at least oneimage sensor 114 may be operable to capture one or more images of amachine-readable symbol 102 that is within the field of view 118 of theat least one image sensor 114. In such an implementation, the field ofview 118 of the wearable image sensor 104 may be movable to selectivelyencompass various portions of the environment 116 surrounding the user,such as may occur, for example, when a head of the user moves when thewearable image sensor 104 is mounted on the head of the user. Asdiscussed below, in some implementations, the capture of the image(s) ofthe machine-readable symbol 102 by the at least one image sensor 114 maybe activated and/or facilitated by one or more movements involving thefinger mounted indicia 106. In some implementations, the wearable imagesensor may include a wireless communications module 105 that may be usedto communicatively couple the wearable image sensor 104 with otherdevices via one or more wireless communications protocols, such asBluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, or other similar wireless protocols.

The finger mounted indicia 106 may include one or more markings,symbols, or other indications that can be detected by the at least oneimage sensor 114. In some implementations, such detection of the fingermounted indicia 106 by the at least one image sensor 114 may be used tofacilitate the detection and capture of images of one or moremachine-readable symbols 102 within the environment 116 surrounding theuser. For example, in some implementations, a gesture involving thefinger mounted indicia 106 may be used to define a region of interest120 in which a machine-readable symbol 102 is located. In someimplementations, the gesture may include positioning the finger-mountedindicia 106 within a location that may be detected by the image sensor114. In some implementations, the gesture may include one or moremovements involving the finger-mounted indicia 106 that may be detectedby the image sensor 114. As such, the at least one image sensor 114 maycapture an image of the region of interest 120 instead of the entirefield of view 118. Such a region of interest 120 may be included withinand may be smaller than the field of view 118 of the at least oneimager, thereby reducing the size of the image to be captured by the atleast one image sensor 114 and reducing the amount of processingnecessary to capture, detect, and/or decode the machine-readable symbol102. In some implementations, the finger mounted indicia 106 may becomprised of an electronic ink display that may provide for highvisibility and contrast between the finger mounted indicia 106 and abackground, such as may be provided by a glove or a hand of the user.Such may advantageously use no or little power once a presentation onthe electronic ink display has been updated. In such an implementation,the electronic ink may be used to modify the finger-mounted indicia 106that is displayed. Such modification may be based, for example, uponinput that may be received from a user actuatable component, such aspush button that may be communicatively coupled with the finger-mountedindicia 106. In some implementations, such user input may be receivedvia a wireless transmission that may be received by a component that iscommunicatively coupled to the finger-mounted indicia 106. The fingermounted indicia 106 may take various forms. For example, in someimplementations, the finger mounted indicia 106 may include one or moremachine-readable symbols that may be borne along the surface of a handwearable element 122, such as a ring, band or article of clothing (e.g.,a glove), for example, that might surround at least a portion of afinger of a user. Such machine-readable symbols may be used to encodeinformation that may be useful to the system 100, such as a location inwhich the finger mounted indicia 106 is used or the identity of theperson associated with and likely to use the finger mounted indicia 106.In some implementations, the finger mounted indicia 106 may be a symbolthat does not encode any information. In such an implementation, thefinger mounted indicia 106 may be comprised of one or more parts tofacilitate detection by the at least one image sensor 114, such as, forexample, through the execution of a pattern matching algorithm.Alternatively, such a symbol may be a logo or other symbol associatedwith an actual or potential customer to enhance the aesthetics for thatcustomer of the object or article of clothing that bears the fingermounted indicia 106. In some implementations, the finger mounted indicia106 may include a light source, such as, for example, a light sourcethat emits light of a certain wavelength in the visible and/ornon-visible spectrum of light.

The hand wearable element 122 that bears the finger mounted indicia 106may surround at least a portion of one or more fingers of the user. Insome implementations, the hand wearable element 122 may be a metal orcloth ring or elasticated band that may be slipped onto one or morefingers of the user. As such, the ring or band may include the fingermounted indicia 106 on at least a portion of the ring or band that facesin an opposite direction from the palm. In some implementations, thefinger mounted indicia 106 may be repeated multiple times around theoutside surface of the ring or band such that at least one of the fingermounted indicia 106 may face in the opposite direction from the palmregardless of how the ring or band is put onto the finger.

In some implementations, the hand wearable element 122 that bears thefinger mounted indicia 106 may be a glove or other article that isdesigned to fit over the hand of the user. As such, the hand wearableelement 122 may include a full glove with five enclosed fingers or afingerless glove in which one or more fingertips have been removed. Insuch an implementation, the outer surface of one or more fingers of theglove may bear the finger mounted indicia 106. As such, the fingermounted indicia 106 may be oriented to face away from the palm of theuser. In such an implementation, the color, texture, and/or otherfeatures of the glove may be modified to enhance the detectability ofthe finger mounted indicia 106. For example, in some implementations,the glove and the finger mounted indicia 106 may have a high colorcontrast, such as may occur when the glove is black or dark blue, andthe finger mounted indicia 106 is white. The glove may be comprised of avariety of material, including rubber, leather, cloth, latex, nitile,and vinyl. In some implementations, such gloves or other articles ofclothing that bear the finger mounted indicia 106 may be comprised ofrelatively inexpensive materials such that the gloves or other articlesmay be disposed after one or a small number of uses.

The control system 108 may take the form of any current or futuredeveloped processor-enabled device capable of executing one or moreinstruction sets. The control system 108 may be communicatively coupledwith the wearable image sensor 104 and at least one image sensor 114,and may thereby receive one or more signals from the at least one imagesensor representative of the images captured by the at least one imagesensor. The control system 108 may include one or more processing unitsto execute one or more processor-readable instructions, instructionsets, or instruction blocks. The control system 108 may include a systemmemory to store one or more processor-readable instructions, instructionsets, or instruction blocks to be executed by the processor. Suchprocessor-readable instructions, instruction sets, or instruction blocksmay be used to capture one or more images using the wearable imagesensor 104, detect positions or movements of the finger mounted indicia106, and/or attempt to decode one or more machine-readable symbols 102contained within the captured images. In some implementations, theprocessor-readable instructions, instruction sets, or instruction blocksmay control the operation of various subsystems or components on thesystem 100. In some implementation, the control system 108 may be anoff-board processor-enabled device that is communicatively coupled withthe wearable image sensor 104 and at least one image sensor 114 via acommunications link 124 using one or more wireless and/or wiredcommunications protocols, such as, for example, Wi-Fi, Ethernet,Bluetooth, ZigBee or any other acceptable communication protocol. Insome implementations, the control system 108 may be incorporated intothe wearable article 112.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D show different implementations of a glove 200that includes various types of finger mounted indicia 106, according toat least one illustrated implementation. The glove 200 may include abase 202 and one or more finger portions 204. The base 202 may belocated proximate the palm of the user and may extend partially orcompletely around the palm and/or wrist of the user. The finger portions204 may extend outwardly from the base 202. Each finger portion 204 maybe sized and shaped to completely or partially surround a respective oneof the fingers of the user. In some implementations, for example, theglove 200 may be fingerless such that the distal ends of one or more ofthe finger portions 204 may be missing. The finger mounted indicia 106may be located along one or more of the finger portions 204 of the eachimplementation of the glove 200. As shown in FIGS. 2A through 2D, thefinger mounted indicia 106 is borne along a surface of the fingerportion 204 of the glove 200 associated with the index finger on theleft hand of the user, with the finger mounted indicia 106 being locatedon the finger portion 204 relatively towards the base 202 of the gloveand opposite the palm (e.g., proximate a part of the finger portion 204corresponding to the knuckle of the user).

FIG. 2A shows an implementation of a glove 200 a in which the fingermounted indicia 106 is comprised of a finger-mounted machine-readablesymbol 206. Such a finger-mounted machine-readable symbol 206 may be afinger-mounted one-dimensional machine-readable symbol 206 a (e.g., abarcode symbol) and/or a finger-mounted two-dimensional machine-readablesymbol 206 b (e.g., a Quick Response symbol). As such, themachine-readable symbol may be used to encode various types ofinformation that may be of use to the system. Such information mayinclude, for example, identification information of a person (e.g., anemployee identification number) associated with the glove 200 a,location information associated with a location that the glove is to beused. In such an implementation, the control system 108 may usewell-known, robust, and reliable decoding libraries for the fingermounted machine-readable symbols 206 that may improve the detectabilityof such finger mounted machine-readable symbols 206 in the imagescaptured by the wearable image sensor 104.

FIG. 2B shows an implementation of a glove 200 b in which the fingermounted indicia 106 is comprised of an indicia 208 that does not encodeinformation. Such an indicia 208 may be comprised of a simple symbol inwhich the shape and/or color of the indicia 208 may provide a highcontrast with the remaining portion of the glove 200 b. In such animplementation, the control system 108 may use well-known patternmatching processes to detect the indicia 208 in the images captured bythe wearable image sensor 104. In some implementations, the indicia 208may be a logo or other symbol associated with a current or potentialcustomer that may be purchasing the gloves 200 b. In such animplementation, the use of such a logo or other symbol associated withthe customer may improve the aesthetic appeal and/or marketability ofthe gloves 200 b.

FIG. 2C shows an implementation of a glove 200 c in which the fingermounted indicia 106 is comprised of at least one of a finger mountedlight source 210 a and a finger mounted retro-reflector 210 b, accordingto at least one illustrated implementation. Each of the finger mountedlight source 210 a and the finger mounted retro-reflector 210 b mayprovide a luminous spot that may be detectable by the control system 108in the images captured by the wearable image sensor 104. Such animplementation may be advantageous, for example, in situations in whichthe environment 116 surrounding the user has little or no light. Thefinger mounted light source 210 a may include a light emitting diode(LED) that may produce a luminous spot that may use less power thanother light sources. In some implementations, the LED may emit light ofone or more specific wavelengths, which may be used to facilitate thedetection the LED by the control system 108. Such light may havewavelengths that are within the visible light spectrum and/or that areoutside of the visible light spectrum (e.g., infrared light). The fingermounted retro-reflector 210 b may be comprised of a reflective surfacethat reflects light back towards a light source with minimal scattering.Such a light source may be included or incorporated into, for example,the wearable article 112 that is part of the wearable image sensor 104.In such an implementation, the light source may be located proximate theat least one image sensor 114.

FIG. 2D shows an implementation of a glove 200 d in which the fingermounted indicia 106 is comprised of finger mounted non-perceptibledigital watermark 212, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. In such an implementation the finger mountednon-perceptible digital watermark 212 may be imperceptible to a humanuser, but may nonetheless be detectable by the control system 108 inimages captured by the at least one image sensor 114. As such, the useof the finger mounted non-perceptible digital watermark 212 may improvethe aesthetic appeal of the glove 200 d to customers.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show a glove 300 having a finger mounted indicia 106comprised of a machine-readable barcode symbol 302 that is orientedalong a longitudinal axis 304 of a finger portion 306 of the glove 300in which the amount of skew of the machine-readable barcode symbol 302is captured by the at least one image sensor 114 and detected by thecontrol system 108. The control system 108 may use the detected amountof skew to specify one of a plurality of machine-readable symbols 102(e.g., a first machine-readable symbol 102 a, and a secondmachine-readable symbol 102 b) within the environment 116 surroundingthe user, according to at least one illustrated implementation. In someimplementations, each of the plurality of machine-readable symbols 102may be borne along the surface of respective objects 110 within theenvironment 116. As such, the first machine-readable symbol 102 a may beborne along a surface of a proximal object 110 a that is locatedrelatively closer to the user, and the second machine-readable symbol102 b may be borne along a surface of a distal object 110 b that islocated relatively further away from the user.

The control system 108 may determine the amount skew of themachine-readable barcode symbol 302 based upon one or more perceiveddistances 308 between associated adjacent bars 310 in themachine-readable barcode symbol 302. For example, when the fingerportion 306 of the glove 300 is in a relatively vertical direction afirst amount of skew 312 may be perceived by the control system 108, andwhen the finger portion 306 of the glove 300 is in a relativelyhorizontal direction, a second amount of skew 314 may be perceived bythe control system 108. In such situations, the perceived distance 308between associated adjacent bars 310 may be relatively greater when thefinger portion 306 is in a relatively vertical direction to create thefirst amount of skew 312 as compared to the same perceived distance 308between the same associated adjacent bars 310 when the finger portion306 is in a relatively horizontal direction to create the second amountof skew.

Each perceived amount of skew may be associated with a differentfunction and/or a different object. For example, in someimplementations, the control system 108 may detect and decode the firstmachine-readable symbol 102 a on the proximal object 110 a when thecontrol system 108 detects the first amount of skew 312 (e.g., when thefinger portion 306 is oriented in the relatively vertical direction),and the control system 108 may detect and decode the secondmachine-readable symbol 102 b on the distal object 110 b when thecontrol system 108 detects the second amount of skew 314. In anothersituation, for example, in implementations in which the user is wearingan augmented or virtual reality headset (not shown), the relative amountof detected and determined skew may be used to control an amount ofzooming capability provided by the augmented or virtual realityheadsets. As such, the control system 108 may transmit one or moresignals to cause the zoom function to zoom out when the control system108 detects a first amount of skew 312, and the control system 108 maytransmit one or more signals to cause the zoom function to zoom in whenthe control system 108 detects a second amount of skew 314. In someimplementations, the detected and determined amount of skew may be usedto control the functions of objects that are spaced apart from the user.For example, in some implementations, the relative amount of detectedand determined skew may be used to control a speed and/or direction of aremotely controlled vehicle. As such, the control system 108 maytransmit one or more signals to cause the remotely controlled vehiclemay decelerate (or turn right) when the control system 108 detects afirst amount of skew 312, and the control system 108 may transmit one ormore signals to cause the remotely controlled vehicle may accelerate (orturn left) when the control system 108 detects a second amount of skew314.

FIGS. 3C and 3D show a glove 300 having a finger mounted indicia 106comprised of a machine-readable barcode symbol 302 that is orientedalong a longitudinal axis 304 of a finger portion 306 of the glove 300in which the perceived distance between the finger mounted indicia 106and the image sensor 114 is captured by the at least one image sensor114 and detected by the control system 108. The control system 108 mayuse the detected distance to specify one of a plurality ofmachine-readable symbols 102 (e.g., a first machine-readable symbol 102a, and a second machine-readable symbol 102 b) within the environment116 surrounding the user, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. As noted above, the first machine-readable symbol 102 amay be borne along a surface of a proximal object 110 a that is locatedrelatively closer to the user, and the second machine-readable symbol102 b may be borne along a surface of a distal object 110 b that islocated relatively further away from the user.

The control system 108 may determine the distance between the imagesensor 114 and the finger mounted indicia 106 based upon one or moreperceived distances 308 between at least two bars 310 in themachine-readable barcode symbol 302. Such at least two bars 310 mayinclude two adjacent bars 310 in the finger mounted indicia 106, a firstbar and a last bar located at opposite ends of the finger mountedindicia 106, or any other set of bars 310 included in the finger mountedindicia. In such an implementation, the perceived distance 308 betweenthe two bars 310 may be determined based upon the focal length,magnification factor, and field of view of the image sensor 114, alongwith the actual distance between the two bars 310. In such animplementation, the image sensor 114 may capture an image of the fingermounted indicia 106 at a defined magnification and focal length. Usingsuch an image, the perceived distance between the two bars 310 in thefinger mounted indicia in the captured image may be determined basedupon the number of pixels that separate the two bars 310 in the image atthe defined magnification ratio. The determined perceived distancebetween the two bars 310 may then be compared to the actual distancebetween the same two bars 310 to determine the distance between theimage sensor 114 and the finger mounted indicia 106.

The control system 108 may use the determined perceived distancesbetween at least two bars 310 on the finger mounted indicia 106 todetermine a distance from the image sensor 114 and the finger mountedindicia 104. For example, when the finger portion 306 of the glove 300is in a relatively proximal position to the image sensor 114, a firstdistance 308 a may be perceived by the control system 108, and when thefinger portion 306 of the glove 300 is in a relatively distal positionto the image sensor 114, a second distance 308 b may be perceived by thecontrol system 108. In such situations, the perceived distance 308 abetween associated adjacent bars 310 may be relatively greater when thefinger portion 306 is in a relatively proximal position with respect tothe image sensor 114 as compared to the same perceived distance 308 bbetween the same associated adjacent bars 310 when the finger portion306 is in a relatively distal position with respect to the image sensor114. In some implementations, the control system 108 may have storedinformation regarding the distance 308 between adjacent bars. In such animplementation, the control system 108 may determine a threshold valuefor the distance 308 that may be used to distinguish between a proximalposition and a distal position for the finger mounted indicia 106. Asnoted above, each of the different perceived distances may be associatedwith a respective one of a different function and/or a different object.

FIG. 4 shows a gesture 400 that is represented by a number of movements402 a through 402 d (collectively, movements 402) of a first fingermounted indicia 106 a, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. The movements 402 may be proximate the machine-readablesymbol 102, which may have a left edge 404, a bottom edge 406, a rightedge 408, and a top edge 410. The gesture 400 may begin with a firstmovement 402 a in which the first finger mounted indicia 106 a moves ina relatively downward direction proximate the left edge 404 of themachine-readable symbol 102. The first finger mounted indicia 106 a maythen be transitioned to a second movement 402 b once the first fingermounted indicia 106 a moves past the bottom edge 406 of themachine-readable symbol 102, at which point the first finger mountedindicia 106 a is swept in a rightward direction proximate the bottomedge 406. The movements 402 may transition to a third movement 402 cwhen the first finger mounted indicia 106 a moves past the right edge408 of the machine-readable symbol 102. At this point, the first fingermounted indicia 106 a may begin to move in a relatively upward directionproximate the right edge 408 of the machine readable symbol 102. Themovements 402 may transition to a fourth movement 402 d when the firstfinger mounted indicia 106 a moves past the top edge 410 of themachine-readable symbol 102, at which point the first finger mountedindicia 106 a begins to move in a leftward direction proximate the topedge 410. The gesture 400 may end when the first finger mounted indicia106 a moves past the left edge 404 of the machine-readable symbol 102.

The control system 108 may detect an occurrence of the gesture 400 basedupon the movement of the first finger mounted indicia 106 a across aplurality of images captured by the at least one image sensor 114. Insome implementations, the plurality of images may be comprised ofsuccessive images taken over a period of time during which the firstfinger mounted indicia 106 a performs the gesture 400. By detecting thesuccessive positions of the first finger mounted indicia 106 a oversuccessive images, the control system 108 may construct a trace 412 ofthe movements 402 by the first finger mounted indicia 106 a. The controlsystem 108 may identify the gesture 400 by comparing the constructedtrace 412 with a set of possible traces stored, for example, innon-transitory memory in which each possible trace is associated with adifferent gesture. In such an implementation, each gesture may have anassociated function or operation to be executed by the control system108 when the control system 108 detects the respective gesture. Forexample, the gesture 400 may define a region of interest 414 in whichthe control system 108 may search for one or more machine-readablesymbols 102. When the control system 108 detects an occurrence of thegesture 400, the control system 108 may attempt to detect and decode theone or more machine-readable symbols 102 included within the region ofinterest 414. Additional gestures may be associated with otherfunctions, which may include, for example, adding a representation of anobject 110 associated with a detected machine-readable symbol 102 to avirtual basket; removing a representation of an object 110 associatedwith a detected machine-readable symbol 102 from a virtual basket;requesting information regarding an object 110 associated with adetected machine-readable symbol 102; defining a remote host to transmitcaptured, detected, and/or decoded information; specifying a request forinformation regarding the object 110, such as nutritional informationand/or expiration date(s) involving food items, and/or dimensions,weight, cost, hazardous materials information, and/or correct positionwithin a warehouse facility; and/or an additional, separate gesture toidentify a communication channel (e.g., Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee). Eachof these functions may be associated with a separate gesture within theset of gestures. The set of gestures may be used to form a gesturerecognition policy that may be executed by the control system 108. Insome implementations, a gesture may include positioning the fingermounted indicia (e.g., the first finger mounted indicia 106 a) within alocation to be captured in images and detected by the control system108.

In some implementations, a second finger mounted indicia 106 b may beused instead of, or in conjunction with, the first finger mountedindicia 106 a. Such a second finger mounted indicia 106 b may be of thesame type or of a different type (e.g., a machine-readable symbol, awatermark, or a non-encoded symbol) as the first finger mounted indicia106 a. In such an implementation, each of one or more combinations ofgestures involving one or both of a first finger mounted indicia 106 aand the second finger mounted indicia 106 b may be used to trigger adefined function, operation, and/or application. As such, the firstfinger mounted indicia 106 a may be located on a first finger, and thesecond finger mounted indicia 106 b may be mounted on a second finger inwhich the second finger may be on the same or on the opposite hand asthe first finger. In some implementations, a combination of gestures orpositions by both the first finger mounted indicia 106 a and the secondfinger mounted indicia 106 b may be used to trigger a defined function,operation, and/or application. In some implementations, gestures orpositions involving only the first finger mounted indicia 106 a may beused to trigger a defined function, operation, and/or application. Insome implementations, gestures or positions involving only the secondfinger mounted indicia 106 b may be used to trigger a defined function,operation, and/or application, as discussed above. In someimplementations, gestures or positions involving three or more fingersmounted indicia 106 a, 106 b can be detected and recognized, in whichthe fingers mounted indicia 106 a, 106 b can be on fingers of one handor two hands.

FIG. 5 shows a system 500 in which a wearable image sensor 104 includesan low power processing unit 502 and low power imager 504 that may beused to generate an activation signal 506, and a general purposeprocessor 508 and a second imager 510 that may be used to capture amachine-readable symbol 102, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. In such an implementation, the at least one image sensor114 discussed above may be comprised of the low power imager 504 and thesecond imager 510. In such an implementation, the control system 108discussed above may include the low power processing unit 502 and thegeneral purpose processor 508. In some implementations, the low powerprocessing unit 502 and the low power imager 504 may be communicativelycoupled via, for example, a communications bus. In some implementations,the general purpose processor 508 and the second imager 510 may becommunicatively coupled via, for example, a communications bus.

The low power imager 504 may have a first field of view 512 thatincludes a portion of the surrounding environment 116. In such animplementation, the low power processing unit 502 may maintain the lowpower imager 504 in an active mode. As such, the low power imager 504may periodically capture an image from the first field of view 512 toform a set of successive images. In some implementations, for example,the low power imager 504 may capture up to 30 images per second witheach image having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video Graphics Array)resolution of about 19200 pixels. The low power imager 504 may operatein a low power mode, and may consume no more than 70 μW of power.

The low power imager 504 may transmit each electronic representation ofan image to the low power processing unit 502. In some implementations,the low power processing unit 502 may be comprised of one or more of afield programmable gate array (FPGA), a digital signal processing (DSP)circuit, and a graphics processing unit (GPU). Such a low powerprocessing unit 502 may execute a set of processor executableinstructions to detect an occurrence of one or more gestures from theset of captured successive images received from the low power imager504. In such an implementation, for example, the one or more gesturesthat may be recognized by the low power processing unit 502 may formpart of a gesture recognition policy. Such detection of the one or moregestures may be facilitated and enhanced by the use of a finger mountedindicia 106. Because of the specific application being executed, the lowpower processing unit 502 may operate with limited resources. When thelow power imager 504 detects an occurrence of a gesture, the low powerprocessing unit 502 transmits an activation signal 506 to the generalpurpose processor 508. In some implementations, the activation signal506 may include an indication of a function or process associated withthe detected gesture, as determined, for example, from the gesturerecognition policy.

When the general purpose processor 508 receives the activation signal506, the general purpose processor 508 may transition from a relativelower power state to a relative higher power state. For example, in someimplementations, the general purpose processor 508 may be in a relativelower power state comprised of a sleep mode in which the general purposeprocessor 508 draws a minimal amount of power. In such animplementation, the activation signal 506 may be comprised of a wakesignal 514 that wakes the general purpose processor 508 from the sleepmode to transition to a relative higher power state. In someimplementations, the activation signal 506 may indicate a function orprocess that may be associated with gesture detected by the low powerprocessing unit 502. In such an implementation, the general purposeprocessor 508 may execute the associated function or process.

In some implementation, the activation signal 506 may include anindication to perform a process or function to capture and/or attempt todecode a machine-readable symbol 102. In such an implementation, thereceived activation signal 506 may trigger the general purpose processor508 transition from a relatively lower power consumption state to arelatively higher power consumption state. In some implementations, aspart of the transition, the general purpose processor 508 may transmitone or more signals to the second imager 510 that cause the secondimager 510 to capture one or more images from within a second field ofview 518 of the second imager 510. In other implementations, theactivation signal 506 may be received by the second imager 510 from thelow power processing unit 502.

The second field of view 518 of the second imager 510 may overlap or beco-extensive with the first field of view 512 of the low power imager504. The second imager 510 may have a higher picture resolution than thelow power imager 504. For example, in some implementations, the secondimager 510 may be a charge-coupled device (CCD) that captures imageshaving a resolution of at least 1 megapixel or greater. As such, thesecond imager 510 may have a relatively higher rated power consumptionwhen capturing images as compared to the low power imager 504, which mayhave a relatively lower rated power consumption when capturing images.The second imager 510 may transmit the one or more images to the generalpurpose processor 508.

The general purpose processor 508 may execute one or moreprocessor-executable instructions to detect an occurrence of amachine-readable symbol 102 included within one or more of the imagesreceived from the second imager 510. In some implementations, theoccurrence of the gesture detected by the low power processing unit 502may include information, such as location information, regarding aregion of interest 120 that may include the machine-readable symbol 102to be captured and decoded. Such information may advantageously enablethe general purpose processor 508 to more quickly and efficiently detectthe machine-readable symbol 102 by searching only a subset (e.g., anarea associated with the region of interest) of the image(s) receivedfrom the second imager 510.

When the general purpose processor 508 detects the machine-readablesymbol 102 within the image(s) captured by the second imager 510, thegeneral purpose processor 508 may execute one or moreprocessor-executable instructions to attempt to decode the detectedmachine-readable symbol 102. Such decoding may be performed, forexample, by executing one or more sets of processor-executableinstructions that may be included within well-known machine-readablesymbol decoding libraries. If the general purpose processor 508 issuccessful in decoding the machine-readable symbol to obtain the encodedinformation, the general purpose processor 508 may pass some or all ofthe decoded information to other processes or functions executed by thegeneral purpose processor 508 or by other processors. When the generalpurpose processor 508 is finished decoding and processing decodedinformation, the general purpose processor 508 may transition back tothe relative lower power state until receiving another activation signal506 from the low power processing unit 502. In some situations, thegeneral purpose processor 508 may be unsuccessful in attempting todecode the machine-readable symbol 102. In such a situation, the generalpurpose processor 508 may transition back to the relative lower powerstate until receiving another activation signal 506 from the low powerprocessing unit 502.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a processor 600 that detects an occurrence of agesture by the finger mounted indicia 106 (see gesture trace 602) withinimages captured by an low power imager 604 that triggers the processor600 to attempt to detect and decode a machine-readable symbol 102 withinimages captured by a second imager 606, according to at least oneillustrated implementation. The processor 600 may include a triggerfunction 608 comprised of one or more processor-executable instructionsthat, when executed, cause the processor 600 to detect the occurrencewithin images captured by the low power imager 604 of one or moregestures associated with the finger mounted indicia 106. The processor600 may include a decode function 610 comprised of one or moreprocessor-executable instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessor 600 to detect and decode within one or more images captured bythe second imager 606 the machine-readable symbol 102 that may be borneon an associated object 110.

The low power imager 604 may have a first field of view 612 thatincludes a portion of the surrounding environment 116. The second imager606 may have a second field of view 614 that includes a portion of thesurrounding environment 116. In some implementations, the first field ofview 612 of the low power imager 604 may be coextensive with the secondfield of view 614 of the second imager 606. When the processor executesthe trigger function 608, the processor 600 may maintain the low powerimager 604 in an active mode in which the low power imager 604 capturesimages at a defined rate over time to form a set of successive images.In some implementations, for example, the low power imager 604 maycapture up to 30 images per second with each image having a QQVGA(Quarter Quarter Video Graphics Array) resolution of about 19200 pixels,as described above. The processor 600 may search the set of capturedimages for the occurrence of one or more gestures involving the fingermounted indicia 106. In such a situation, both the processor 600 and thelow power imager 604 may draw a minimal amount of power.

When the processor 600 detects an occurrence of a gesture, the processor600 may execute the one or more instructions from the decode function610. As such, the processor 600 may transition from a relatively lowerpower consumption state to a relatively higher power consumption state.As part of the transition, the processor 600 may transmit one or moresignals to the second imager 606 that cause the second imager 606 tocapture one or more images from within the second field of view 614 ofthe second imager 606. The second imager 606 may have a higher pictureresolution than the low power imager 604, for example, a resolution ofat least 1 megapixel or greater. As such, the second imager 606 may havea relatively higher rated power consumption when capturing images ascompared to the low power imager 604. The second imager 606 may transmitthe one or more images to the processor 600. The processor 600 mayexecute one or more processor-executable instructions to detect anoccurrence of the machine-readable symbol 102 included within the one ormore of the images received from the second imager 606. In someimplementations, the occurrence of the gesture detected by the processor600 may be used to determine a region of interest 616 that may includethe machine-readable symbol 102 to be captured and decoded.

When the processor 600 detects the machine-readable symbol 102 withinthe image(s) captured by the second imager 606, the processor 600 mayexecute one or more processor-executable instructions to attempt todecode the detected machine-readable symbol 102. Such decoding may beperformed, for example, by executing one or more sets ofprocessor-executable instructions that may be included within well-knownmachine-readable symbol decoding libraries. When the processor 600 isfinished attempting to decode the captured image of the machine-readablesymbol 102, because of either a successful or unsuccessful decode, theprocessor 600 may end the decode function 610 and transition back to thetrigger function 608. In such an implementation, the decode function 610may be a relatively higher power consumption state, and the triggerfunction 608 may be a relatively lower power consumption state.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show a glove 700 that includes a first finger mountedindicia 702 on one side of a finger portion 704 of the glove, and a setof one or more light sources 706 on an opposing side of the fingerportion 704, according to at least one illustrated implementation. Theglove 700 may include a wireless communication module 708, a powersupply 710, and a control module 712. In some implementations, thewireless communication module 708 may be communicatively coupled to thewearable image sensor 104 (not shown) using one or more wirelesscommunication protocols, such as Bluetooth, WiFi, ZigBee, or some otherwireless communication protocol. The power supply 710 may include abattery, for example, a light-weight or portable battery that may beincorporated into a portion of the glove 700. The control module 712 mayinclude a flexible printed circuit board. Such a control module 712 maybe communicatively coupled to the wireless communication module 708and/or to the light sources 706. In some implementations, the controlmodule 712 may receive one or more control signals via the wirelesscommunication module 708. Based upon the received one or more controlsignals, the control module 712 may transmit one or more signals tocontrol the operation of the light sources 706. In some implementations,the control module 712 may transmit such one or more signals to turn thelight sources 706 ON when the control module 712 detects an instance ofa particular gesture performed with the first finger mounted indicia702.

The light sources 706 may include a set of one or more LEDs that may runalong a longitudinal axis 714 that runs from the palm towards thefingertip of the user. The light source 706 may be located along abottom facing surface (e.g., the surface along the palm) of the fingerportion 704 of the glove 700. In some implementations, the light sources706 may be comprised of other light emitting components. The lightsources 706 may be selectively turned ON and turned OFF based uponsignals received from the control module 712. Such light sources 706 maybe advantageously used to provide an illumination area 716 proximate thefinger portion 704 of the glove 700 during periods of little or noambient lighting. Such an illumination area 716 may be used, forexample, to illuminate a machine-readable symbol 102 such that themachine-readable symbol 102 may be detected by the wearable image sensor104 (not shown).

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the lights sources 706 on the finger portion 704 ofthe glove 700 activated when at least a portion of the glove 700 iswithin a field of view 800 of the wearable image sensor 802, anddeactivated when no portion of the glove 700 is within the field of view800, according to at least one illustrated implementation. In someimplementations, the wearable image sensor 802 may determine theposition of the glove 700 based upon one or more indicia borne on thesurface of the glove 700. Such indicia may include, for example, one ormore finger mounted indicia 106 borne on the surface of the glove 700.As shown in FIG. 8A, no part of the glove 700 is within the field ofview 800 of the wearable image sensor 802. As such, the light sources706 are turned OFF and do not emit any light. As shown in FIG. 8B, theglove 700 has entered the field of view 800 of the wearable image sensor802. In this situation, the wearable image sensor 104 may detect theglove 700, such as, for example, by detecting the shape of a human, bydetecting the finger mounted indicia 106, or by detecting some othershape or feature associated with the glove 700. Once the glove 700 hasbeen detected, the wearable image sensor 104 may transmit one or moresignals to the control module 712 on the glove via a wirelesscommunications module 804. Upon receiving these one or more signals, thecontrol module 712 may transmit one or more signals to the light sources706 that result in the light sources 706 being turned ON to illuminatean illumination area 716. When the glove 700 is no longer within thefield of view 800 (because, e.g., the glove 700 has been moved from thefield of view 800 or the field of view 800 has changed based on movementof the wearable image sensor 104), then the control module 712 may turnthe light sources 706 OFF. Alternatively, or in addition, the lightsources 706 may be turned ON and/or OFF based upon one or more detectedgestures performed with the finger mounted indicia 106 within the fieldof view 800 of the wearable image sensor 802.

FIG. 9 shows a wearable image sensor 104 that is a wearable augmentedreality display 900 that provides a visual indication 902 related to oneor more objects 904 in an environment 906 surrounding the wearableaugmented reality display 900, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. The wearable augmented reality display 900 may becomprised of a set of glasses with one or more lenses 908, and a lightprojector 910 that may be used to project light, in the form of shapesor images, onto one or more of the lenses 908. The shape or imageprojected by the light projector 910 may be responsive to one or moreitems that may be visible by a user through the lenses 908. In someimplementations, for example, the object 904 may bear a machine-readablesymbol 912 along one or more surfaces. When the image sensor and/orcontrol system (not shown) on or associated with the wearable augmentedreality display 900 detects the machine-readable symbol 912, the lightprojector 910 may project a symbol comprised of a circle of light of afirst color that appears over at least a portion of the machine-readablesymbol 912. When the image sensor and/or control system (not shown) onor associated with the wearable image sensor successfully decodes themachine-readable symbol 912, the light projector 910 may project asymbol comprised of a circle of light of a second color that appearsover at least a portion of the machine-readable symbol 912. For example,in some implementations, the light projector 910 may project a redcircle over the machine-readable symbol 912 when the machine-readablesymbol 912 is detected and a green dot over the machine-readable symbol912 when the machine-readable symbol 912 is decoded.

FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a control system 1000, according to atleast one illustrated implementation. Such a control system 1000 may beused as part of, or to implement, one or more of the control system 108associated with the wearable image sensor 104, for example. The controlsystem 1000 may take the form of any current or future developedcomputing system capable of executing one or more instruction sets. Thecontrol system 1000 includes a processing unit 1002, a system memory1004 and a system bus 1006 that communicably couples various systemcomponents including the system memory 1004 to the processing unit 1002.The control system 1000 will at times be referred to in the singularherein, but this is not intended to limit the embodiments to a singlesystem, since in certain embodiments, there will be more than one systemor other networked computing device involved. Non-limiting examples ofcommercially available systems include, but are not limited to, an Atom,Pentium, or 80x86 architecture microprocessor as offered by IntelCorporation, a Snapdragon processor as offered by Qualcomm, Inc., aPowerPC microprocessor as offered by IBM, a Sparc microprocessor asoffered by Sun Microsystems, Inc., a PA-RISC series microprocessor asoffered by Hewlett-Packard Company, an A6 or A8 series processor asoffered by Apple Inc., or a 68xxx series microprocessor as offered byMotorola Corporation.

The processing unit 1002 may be any logic processing unit, such as oneor more central processing units (CPUs), microprocessors, digital signalprocessors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic controllers(PLCs), etc. Unless described otherwise, the construction and operationof the various blocks shown in FIG. 10 are of conventional design. As aresult, such blocks need not be described in further detail herein, asthey will be understood by those skilled in the relevant art. In someimplementations, some or all of the processing unit 1002, the memory1004, and one or more other components discussed below may be includedwithin a single integrated circuit, such as may occur, for example, witha system on chip (SoC).

The system bus 1006 can employ any known bus structures orarchitectures, including a memory bus with memory controller, aperipheral bus, and a local bus. The system memory 1004 includesread-only memory (“ROM”) 1008 and random access memory (“RAM”) 1010. Abasic input/output system (“BIOS”) 1012, which can form part of the ROM1008, contains basic routines that help transfer information betweenelements within the control system 1000, such as during start-up. Someimplementations may employ separate buses for data, instructions andpower.

The control system 1000 also includes one or more internal nontransitorystorage systems 1014. Such internal nontransitory storage systems 1014may include, but are not limited to, any current or future developedpersistent storage device 1016. Such persistent storage devices 1016 mayinclude, without limitation, magnetic storage devices such as hard discdrives, electromagnetic storage devices such as memristors, molecularstorage devices, quantum storage devices, electrostatic storage devicessuch as solid state drives, and the like.

The one or more internal nontransitory storage systems 1014 communicatewith the processing unit 1002 via the system bus 1006. The one or moreinternal nontransitory storage systems 1014 may include interfaces ordevice controllers (not shown) communicably coupled betweennontransitory storage system and the system bus 1006, as is known bythose skilled in the relevant art. The nontransitory storage systems1014 and associated storage devices 1016 provide nonvolatile storage ofcomputer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules andother data for the control system 1000. Those skilled in the relevantart will appreciate that other types of storage devices may be employedto store digital data accessible by a computer, such as magneticcassettes, flash memory cards, RAMs, ROMs, smart cards, etc.

Program modules can be stored in the system memory 1004, such as anoperating system 1018, one or more application programs 1020, otherprograms or modules 1022, drivers 1024 and program data 1026.

The application programs 1020 may include, for example, one or moremachine executable instruction sets (i.e., gesture recognition policy1020 a) capable of detecting gestures involving finger mounted indicia106 in images captured, for example, by the image sensor 114 and/or theultra-low powered imager 504. The application programs 1020 may include,for example, one or more machine executable instruction sets (i.e.,machine-readable code detection 1020 b) capable of detectingmachine-readable symbols 102 that are included within images captured,for example, by the image sensor 114 and/or the second imager 510. Theapplication programs 1020 may include, for example, one or more machineexecutable instruction sets (machine-readable symbol decoding library1020 c) capable of decoding the machine-readable symbols 102 that areincluded within images captured, for example, by the image sensor 114and/or the second imager 510. The application programs 1020 may bestored as one or more executable instructions.

In some embodiments, the control system 1000 operates in an environmentusing one or more of the network interfaces 1028 to optionallycommunicably couple to one or more remote computers, servers, displaydevices, via one or more communications channels. These logicalconnections may facilitate any known method of permitting computers tocommunicate, such as through one or more LANs and/or WANs. Suchnetworking environments are well known in wired and wirelessenterprise-wide computer networks, intranets, extranets, and theInternet.

Further, local communication interface 1030 may be used for establishingcommunications with other components in a local device, such as mayoccur, for example, when the control system 1000 is associated with thewearable image sensor 104. For example, the local communicationinterface 1030 may be used to communicate with the image sensor 114 bytransmitting one or more signals to control the operation of the imagesensor 114, and by receiving one or more images from the image sensor114.

FIG. 11 shows a method 1100 that may be used to detect and attempt todecode a machine-readable symbol 102 within a set of images, accordingto at least one illustrated implementation. The method 1100 starts at1102, at which a processor enabled device, for example the wearableimage sensor 104 and/or control system, activates an imager, such as theimage sensor 114 or the ultra-low power image imager 504.

At 1104, the imager may capture a set of images from an associated fieldof view. The imager may include, for example, the image sensor 114and/or the ultra-low power image imager 504. The imager may captureimages at a defined rate over time such that the set of images may becomprised of a set of successive images. In some implementations, forexample, the imager may capture up to 30 images per second with eachimage having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video Graphics Array) resolutionof about 19200 pixels. In such an implementation, the imager thatcaptures the set of images at 1104 may have a relatively low powerconsumption. In some implementations, the imager may draw no more than70 μW of power.

At 1106, a processor enabled device, such as the control system 1000,detects an occurrence of a gesture from the set of images captured at1104. The occurrence of the gesture may be detected based upon themovements of a finger mounted indicia 106 that is within the set ofimages captured at 1104. The gesture may be represented by a trace of anumber of movements as depicted in the set of images. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may implement a gesturerecognition policy 1020 a to detect an occurrence of a gesture. In suchan implementation, the gesture recognition policy 1020 a may include oneor more gestures and may associate one more movements with each gesture.In some implementations, the gesture recognition policy 1020 a mayassociate one or more functions or processes with each defined gesture.As such, the processor enabled device may cause the associated functionsor processes to be executed when the associated gestures is detected.

In some implementations, the detection of an occurrence of a gesture at1106 may be performed by the low power processing unit 502. As such, thelow power processing unit 502 may execute a limited number of processesand/or functions that may be aimed, for example, at detecting anoccurrence of a gesture within images captured by the imager, such asthe low power imager 504, based upon the movement of an item within theimages. In some implementations, such an item may be a hand, a glove, ora finger mounted indicia 106. In such an implementation, the low powerprocessing unit 502 may have a relatively low power consumption. Oncethe occurrence of the gesture is detected, the method 1100 proceeds to1108.

At 1108, a processor enabled device, such as the control system 1000,detects the machine-readable symbol 102. In some implementations, suchdetection may be performed by the general purpose processor 508. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may cause an imager, suchas the image sensor 114 and/or the second imager 510, to capture one ormore images of a field of view in order to detect the machine-readablesymbol 102. In some implementations, the processor enable device may usethe image captured at 1104 to detect the machine-readable symbol 102.

The processor enabled device may use one or more functions to search thecaptured images to detect the machine-readable symbol 102. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may use a patternrecognition function to perform such detection. In some implementations,the processor enabled device may receive information relating to thelocation of the machine-readable symbol 102 within the field of view. Insuch an implementation, for example, the occurrence of the gesturedetected at 1106 may provide location information regarding a region ofinterest 120 that includes the machine-readable symbol 102. As such, theregion of interest 120 may enable the processor enabled device to morequickly and efficiently detect the machine-readable symbol 102. Themethod 1100 continues to 1110 when the machine-readable symbol 102 hasbeen detected.

At 1110, a processor enabled device attempts to decode the detectedmachine-readable symbol 102 within the images captured by the imager.The decoding may be performed, for example, by the general purposeprocessor 508. In some implementations, the decoding may be performed byexecuting one or more sets of processor-executable instructions that maybe included within well-known machine-readable symbol decodinglibraries. If the processor enabled device is successful in decoding themachine-readable symbol to obtain the encoded information, the processorenabled device may pass some or all of the decoded information to otherprocesses or functions executed by the same processor enabled device orby processors in other devices.

At 1112, the method 1100 terminates, for example until invoked again.Alternatively, the method 1100 may repeat continuously or repeatedly, ormay execute as multiple instances of a multi-threaded process.

FIG. 12 shows a method 1200 that may be used to capture a first set ofimages to detect an occurrence of a gesture, and detect amachine-readable symbol 102 within a second set of images, according toat least one illustrated implementation. The method 1200 starts at 1202,at which a processor enabled device, for example the wearable imagesensor 104 and/or the control system 1000, activates the ultra-low powerimage imager 504.

At 1204, the ultra-low power image imager 504 may capture an image froma first field of view 512 for the ultra-low power image imager 504. Insome implementations, the image captured at 1204 may be part of a seriesof images captured by the ultra-low power image imager 504. In suchinstances, the ultra-low power image imager 504 may capture images at adefined rate over time such that the set of images may be comprised of aset of successive images. In some implementations, for example, theultra-low power image imager 504 may capture up to 30 images per secondwith each image having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video Graphics Array)resolution of about 19200 pixels. In such an implementation, theultra-low power image imager 504 that captures the set of images at 1104may have a relatively low power consumption. In some implementations,the ultra-low power image imager 504 may draw no more than 70 μW ofpower.

At 1206, the processor enabled device determines if an occurrence of agesture is detected. In some implementations, detecting the occurrenceof a gesture may be performed by an low power processing unit 502 thatis part of the processor enabled device. The occurrence of the gesturemay be detected based upon the movements of an object, such as, forexample, a hand, a glove, and/or finger mounted indicia 106, that iswithin the set of images captured at 1204. The gesture may berepresented by a trace of a number of movements as depicted in the setof images. In some implementations, the processor enabled device mayimplement a gesture recognition policy 1020 a to detect an occurrence ofa gesture. In such an implementation, the gesture recognition policy1020 a may include one or more gestures and may associate one moremovements with each gesture. In some implementations, the gesturerecognition policy 1020 a may associate one or more functions orprocesses with each defined gesture. As such, the processor enableddevice may cause the associated functions or processes to be executedwhen the associated gestures is detected. If a gesture is not detected,the method 1200 may return to 1204 in which the low power imager 504captures another image. If a gesture is detected, the method 1200proceeds to 1208.

At 1208, the processor enabled device, such as the low power processingunit 502, generates a wake signal for the general purpose processor 508once the occurrence of the gesture is detected in 1206. In someimplementations, the general purpose processor 508 may be part of thesame or of a different processor enabled device that includes the lowpower processing unit 502. Once the general purpose processor 508 iswakes up, the general purpose processor 508 may begin to executefunctions, processes, and/or other processor-executable instructionsbased upon the gesture that was detected in 1206.

At 1210, a wake signal is generated for the second imager 510. In someimplementations, such a wake signal may be generated by the low powerprocessing unit 502 that may detect the occurrence of the gesture at1206. Such a situation would reduce the amount of time that elapsesbetween the detection of the occurrence of the gesture at 1206 and thedetection of the machine-readable symbol 102. As such, the wake signalgenerated in 1208 for the general purpose processor 508, and the wakesignal generated in 1210 for the second imager 510, may occur at orabout the same time. Such wake signals may further be transmitted at orabout the same time. In some implementations, the wake signal may begenerated by the general purpose processor 508 after the general purposeprocessor 508 receives the wake signal at 1208. After the wake signal isgenerated and transmitted to the second imager 510, the method 1200proceeds to 1212.

At 1212, the second imager 510 captures one or more images of the secondfield of view 518 for the second imager 510. In some implementations,the second field of view 518 of the second imager 510 may overlap or beco-extensive with the first field of view 512 of the low power imager504. The second imager 510 may have a higher picture resolution than thelow power imager 504. For example, in some implementations, the secondimager 510 may be a charge-coupled device (CCD) that captures imageshaving a resolution of at least 1 megapixel or greater. As such, thesecond imager 510 may have a relatively higher rated power consumptionwhen capturing images as compared to the low power imager 504, which mayhave a relatively lower rated power consumption when capturing images.

At 1214, a processor enable device detects the machine-readable symbol102. In some implementations, such detection may be performed by thegeneral purpose processor 508. In some implementations, the processorenabled device may cause an imager, such as the image sensor 114 and/orthe second imager 510, to capture one or more images of a field of viewin order to detect the machine-readable symbol 102. In someimplementations, the processor enable device may use the image capturedat 1104 to detect the machine-readable symbol 102.

The processor enabled device may use one or more functions to search thecaptured images to detect the machine-readable symbol 102. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may use a patternrecognition function to perform such detection. In some implementations,the processor enabled device may receive information relating to thelocation of the machine-readable symbol 102 within the field of view. Insuch an implementation, for example, the occurrence of the gesturedetected at 1106 may provide location information regarding a region ofinterest 120 that includes the machine-readable symbol 102. As such, theregion of interest 120 may enable the processor enabled device to morequickly and efficiently detect the machine-readable symbol 102.

At 1216, a processor enabled device attempts to decode the detectedmachine-readable symbol 102 within the images captured by the imager.The decoding may be performed, for example, by the general purposeprocessor 508. In some implementations, the decoding may be performed byexecuting one or more sets of processor-executable instructions that maybe included within well-known machine-readable symbol decodinglibraries. If the processor enabled device is successful in decoding themachine-readable symbol to obtain the encoded information, the processorenabled device may pass some or all of the decoded information to otherprocesses or functions executed by the same processor enabled device orby processors in other devices.

At 1218, the method 1200 terminates, for example until invoked again.Alternatively, the method 1200 may repeat continuously or repeatedly, ormay execute as multiple instances of a multi-threaded process.

FIG. 13 shows a method 1300 that may be used to control a set of lightsources 706 on a glove 700, with such control based upon a location of afinger mounted indicia 106 indicia relative to the field of vision 800of the wearable image sensor 802, according to at least one illustratedimplementation. The method 1300 starts at 1302, at which a processorenabled device, for example the wearable image sensor 104 and/or thecontrol system 1000, activates an imager, such as the image sensor 114or the ultra-low power image imager 504.

At 1304, the imager may capture a first set of images from an associatedfield of view. The imager may include, for example, the image sensor 114and/or the ultra-low power image imager 504. The imager may captureimages at a defined rate over time such that the set of images may becomprised of a set of successive images. In some implementations, forexample, the imager may capture up to 30 images per second with eachimage having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video Graphics Array) resolutionof about 19200 pixels. In such an implementation, the imager thatcaptures the first set of images at 1304 may have a relatively low powerconsumption. In some implementations, the imager may draw no more than70 μW of power.

At 1306, a processor enabled device, such as the wearable image sensor104 and/or the control system 1000, detects a finger mounted indicia 106within the first set of images captured at 1304. The finger mountedindicia 106 may include one or more markings, symbols, or otherindications that can be detected by the at least one image sensor 114.In some implementations, the detection of the finger mounted indicia 106may further include the detection of an occurrence of a gestureperformed with the finger mounted indicia 106 within the first set ofimages captured at 1304. The gesture may be represented by a trace of anumber of movements as depicted in the set of images. Once the fingermounted indicia 106 is detected, the method 1300 proceeds to 1308.

At 1308, the processor enabled device, such as the wearable image sensor104 and/or the control system 1000, may generate a signal or signalsthat cause the light sources 706 on the glove 700 to turn ON, therebyilluminating an area surrounding the light sources 706. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may be communicativelycoupled to the glove 700 using, for example, a wireless communicationsmodule. In such an implementation, the processor enabled device mayinclude an antenna or other wireless communications transmitter that maybe used to transmit the signal generated at 1308 to the glove 700. Insome implementations, such a signal may be received by the light sources706, thereby causing the light sources 706 to turn ON. In someimplementations, such a signal may be received by a processor or othercontrol circuit on the glove 700, such as the control module 712, whichmay generate a second signal that is transmitted to and received by thelight sources 706, thereby causing the light sources 706 to turn ON. Themethod 1300 then proceeds to 1310.

At 1310, the imager may capture a second set of images from theassociated field of view. The imager may include, for example, the imagesensor 114 and/or the ultra-low power image imager 504. As noted above,the imager may capture images at a defined rate over time such that theset of images may be comprised of a set of successive images. In someimplementations, for example, the imager may capture up to 30 images persecond with each image having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video GraphicsArray) resolution of about 19200 pixels. In such an implementation, theimager that captures the second set of images at 1310 may have arelatively low power consumption. In some implementations, the imagermay draw no more than 70 μW of power. The second set of images may becaptured at a later point in time than the first set of images capturedin 1304.

At 1312, a processor enabled device, such as the wearable image sensor104 and/or the control system 1000, detects that the finger mountedindicia 106 is absent from the second set of images captured at 1310.The finger mounted indicia 106 may include one or more markings,symbols, or other indications that can be detected by the at least oneimage sensor 114. In some implementations, such detection of the absenceof the finger mounted indicia 106 may include a time component such thatthe finger mounted indicia 106 is absent from the field of view ascaptured within the second set of images for a defined period of time,such as, for example, one-half second, one second, or more. Such a timecomponent may, for example, minimize flickering or other flashes of thelight sources 706 when the finger mounted indicia 106 is near the edgesof the field of view. Once the absence of the finger mounted indicia 106is detected, the method 1300 proceeds to 1314.

At 1314, the processor enabled device, such as the wearable image sensor104 and/or the control system 1000, may generate a signal or signalsthat cause the light sources 706 on the glove 700 to turn OFF. In someimplementations, such a signal may be received by the light sources 706,thereby causing the light sources 706 to turn OFF. In someimplementations, such a signal may be received by a processor or othercontrol circuit on the glove 700, such as the control module 712, whichmay generate a second signal that is transmitted to and received by thelight sources 706, thereby causing the light sources 706 to turn OFF.The method 1300 then proceeds to 1316.

At 1316, the method 1300 terminates, for example until invoked again.Alternatively, the method 1300 may repeat continuously or repeatedly, ormay execute as multiple instances of a multi-threaded process.

FIG. 14 shows a method 1400 that may be used to detect an occurrence ofa gesture and execute a function associated with the detected gesture,according to at least one illustrated implementation. The method 1400starts at 1402, at which a processor enabled device, for example thewearable image sensor 104 and/or the control system 1000, activates animager, such as the image sensor 114 or the ultra-low power image imager504.

At 1404, the imager may capture an image from an associated field ofview. In some implementations, the image captured at 1404 may be part ofa series of images captured by the imager. In such instances, the imagermay capture images at a defined rate over time such that the set ofimages may be comprised of a set of successive images. In someimplementations, for example, the imager may capture up to 30 images persecond with each image having a QQVGA (Quarter Quarter Video GraphicsArray) resolution of about 19200 pixels. In such an implementation, theimager that captures the set of images at 1404 may have a relatively lowpower consumption. In some implementations, for example, the imager maydraw no more than 70 μW of power.

At 1406, the processor enabled device determines if an occurrence of agesture is detected. In some implementations, detecting the occurrenceof a gesture may be performed by a low power processing unit 502 that ispart of the processor enabled device. The occurrence of the gesture maybe detected based upon the movements of an object, such as, for example,a hand, a glove, and/or finger mounted indicia 106, that is within theset of images captured at 1404. The gesture may be represented by atrace of a number of movements as depicted in the set of images. In someimplementations, the processor enabled device may implement a gesturerecognition policy 1020 a to detect an occurrence of a gesture. In suchan implementation, the gesture recognition policy 1020 a may include oneor more gestures and may associate one more movements with each gesture.In some implementations, the gesture recognition policy 1020 a mayassociate one or more functions or processes with each defined gesture.As such, the processor enabled device may cause the associated functionsor processes to be executed when the associated gestures is detected. Ifa gesture is not detected, the method 1400 may return to 1404 in whichthe imager captures another image. If a gesture is detected, the method1400 proceeds to 1408.

At 1408, the processor enabled device executes the function or processassociated with the gesture detected at 1406. Such functions mayinclude, for example, identifying a region of interest in which tosearch for a machine-readable symbol 102; adding a representation of anobject 110 associated with a detected machine-readable symbol 102 to avirtual basket; removing a representation of an object 110 associatedwith a detected machine-readable symbol 102 from a virtual basket;requesting information regarding an object 110 associated with adetected machine-readable symbol 102; defining a remote host to transmitcaptured, detected, and/or decoded information; and/or an additional,separate gesture to identify a communication channel (e.g., Bluetooth,WiFi, ZigBee). Each of these functions may be associated with a separategesture within the set of gestures. The set of gestures may be used toform a gesture recognition policy that may be executed by the controlsystem 108. Once the function is executed, the method 1400 proceeds to1410.

At 1410, the method 1400 terminates, for example until invoked again.Alternatively, the method 1400 may repeat continuously or repeatedly, ormay execute as multiple instances of a multi-threaded process.

FIG. 15 shows a method 1500 that may be used to identify a function orobject based upon an amount of skew detected for a finger mountedindicia 106 that includes a machine-readable barcode symbol 302,according to at least one illustrated implementation. The method 1500starts at 1502, at which a processor-based device, for example thewearable image sensor 104 and/or the control system 1000, activates animager, such as the image sensor 114, the ultra-low power image imager504, and/or the second imager 510.

At 1504, the processor enabled device detects an amount of skewassociated with the finger mounted indicia 106. The amount skew of themachine-readable barcode symbol 302 may be determined based upon one ormore perceived distances 308 between associated adjacent bars 310 in themachine-readable barcode symbol 302. For example, when the fingerportion 306 of the glove 300 is in a relatively vertical direction afirst amount of skew 312 may be perceived by the control system 108, andwhen the finger portion 306 of the glove 300 is in a relativelyhorizontal direction, a second amount of skew 314 may be perceived bythe control system 108. In such situations, the perceived distance 308between associated adjacent bars 310 may be relatively greater when thefinger portion 306 is in a relatively vertical direction to create thefirst amount of skew 312 as compared to the same perceived distance 308between the same associated adjacent bars 310 when the finger portion306 is in a relatively horizontal direction to create the second amountof skew.

At 1506, the processor enabled device identifies an object and/orfunction associated with the detected amount of skew from 1504. Forexample, in some implementations, the processor enabled device maydetect and decode a first machine-readable symbol 102 located on aproximal object 110 when the processor enabled device detects a firstamount of skew (e.g., when the finger portion is oriented in therelatively vertical direction), and the processor enabled device maydetect and decode a second machine-readable symbol 102 located on adistal object 110 when the processor enabled device detects a secondamount of skew (e.g., when the finger portion 306 is oriented in therelatively horizontal direction). In another situation, for example, inimplementations in which the user is wearing an augmented or virtualreality headset (not shown), the relative amount of detected anddetermined skew may be used to control an amount of zooming capabilityprovided by the augmented or virtual reality headsets. As such, thecontrol system 108 may transmit one or more signals to cause the zoomfunction to zoom out when the control system 108 detects a first amountof skew 312, and the control system 108 may transmit one or more signalsto cause the zoom function to zoom in when the control system 108detects a second amount of skew 314. In some implementations, thedetected and determined amount of skew may be used to control thefunctions of objects that are spaced apart from the user. For example,in some implementations, the relative amount of detected and determinedskew may be used to control a speed and/or direction of a remotelycontrolled vehicle. As such, the processor enabled device may transmitone or more signals to cause the remotely controlled vehicle maydecelerate (or turn right) when the processor enabled device detects afirst amount of skew, and the processor enabled device may transmit oneor more signals to cause the remotely controlled vehicle may accelerate(or turn left) when the processor enabled device detects a second amountof skew.

At 1508, the method 1500 terminates, for example until invoked again.Alternatively, the method 1500 may repeat continuously or repeatedly, ormay execute as multiple instances of a multi-threaded process.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various implementationsof the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams,schematics, and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics,and examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that each function and/oroperation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can beimplemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range ofhardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. Inone implementation, the present subject matter may be implemented viaApplication Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). However, those skilledin the art will recognize that the implementations disclosed herein, inwhole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in standard integratedcircuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or morecomputers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computersystems), as one or more programs running on one or more controllers(e.g., microcontrollers) as one or more programs running on one or moreprocessors (e.g., microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually anycombination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing thecode for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill ofone of ordinary skill in the art in light of this disclosure.

Those of skill in the art will recognize that many of the methods oralgorithms set out herein may employ additional acts, may omit someacts, and/or may execute acts in a different order than specified. Thevarious embodiments described above can be combined to provide furtherembodiments. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 9,349,047, entitled “Method forthe Optical Identification of Objects in Motion,” is incorporated hereinby reference, in its entirety.

In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that themechanisms taught herein are capable of being distributed as a programproduct in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative implementationapplies equally regardless of the particular type of signal bearingmedia used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of signalbearing media include, but are not limited to, the following: recordabletype media such as floppy disks, hard disk drives, CD ROMs, digitaltape, and computer memory.

These and other changes can be made to the implementations in light ofthe above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificimplementations disclosed in the specification and the claims, butshould be construed to include all possible implementations along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.

1. A system that reads machine-readable symbols, comprising: at leastone wearable image sensor having a field of view, the field of viewmoveable to selectively encompass respective portions of an environmentwith movement of the at least image sensor, the at least one imagesensor which in operation captures images of the respective portions ofthe environment within the field of view of the at least one imagesensor; a control system that is communicatively coupled to the at leastone image sensor to receive signals representative of the images, thecontrol system configured to: detect the first finger mounted indiciaand an occurrence of a one of a plurality of gestures in the images; anddetermine which of a plurality of defined functions is indicated by thedetected gesture based at least in part on the determined shape of atrace of the first finger mounted indicia in the images; executerespective ones of each of a plurality of defined functions in responseto successive ones of a plurality of gestures detected in the images,including in response to detection of the occurrence of a first gesture,trigger an at least attempt at decoding one or more machine-readablesymbols represented in the images.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thecontrol system includes a first processor and at least a secondprocessor, the first processor having a lower rated power consumptionthan a rated power consumption of the second processor, and to triggeran at least attempt at decoding one or more machine-readable symbolsrepresented in the images the first processor provides an activationsignal to activate the second processor.
 3. The system of claim 2wherein to activate the second processor, the first processor provides awake signal that wakes the second processor from a relative lower powerstate to a relatively higher power state.
 4. The system of claim 2wherein the at least one image sensor includes a first image sensor anda second image sensor, the first image sensor having a lower rated powerconsumption than a rated power consumption of the second processor, andto trigger an at least attempt at decoding one or more machine-readablesymbols represented in the images the first processor provides a signalthat activates the second image sensor to capture images of the portionof the environment.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein a respective fieldof view of the second image sensor is co-extensive with a respectivefield of view of the first image sensor.
 6. The system of claim 1further comprising: at least one light source, and wherein in responseto detection of the occurrence of the first gesture, the control systemcauses the at least one light source to emit illumination.
 7. The systemof claim 1 wherein in triggering an at least attempt at decoding thecontrol system triggers a transition from a relatively lower powerconsumption state to a relatively higher power consumption state, andafter an attempted decode the control system triggers a return to therelatively lower power state.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The system of claim 1wherein the first finger mounted indicia is a first finger mountedmachine-readable symbol.
 10. The system of claim 1 wherein the firstfinger mounted indicia is a first finger mounted one-dimensionalmachine-readable symbol.
 11. (canceled)
 12. The system of claim 10wherein the control system is further configured to detect an amount ofskew along a longitudinal axis of the first finger mountedone-dimensional machine-readable symbol in the images.
 13. A system thatreads machine-readable symbols, comprising: at least one wearable imagesensor having a field of view, the field of view moveable to selectivelyencompass respective portions of an environment with movement of the atleast image sensor, the at least one image sensor which in operationcaptures images of the respective portions of the environment within thefield of view of the at least one image sensor; a control system that iscommunicatively coupled to the at least one image sensor to receivesignals representative of the images, the control system configured to:detect an occurrence of a first gesture in the images, the first gesturerepresented by a trace of a number of movements of a first fingermounted indicia; and in response to detection of the occurrence of thefirst gesture, trigger an at least attempt at decoding one or moremachine-readable symbols represented in the images, wherein the firstfinger mounted indicia is a first finger mounted non-perceptible digitalwatermark that is not perceptible by a human, and the at least one ofprocessor-executable instructions or data, when executed by the at leastone processor, cause the at least one processor to: detect the firstfinger mounted non-perceptible digital watermark in the images.
 14. Asystem that reads machine-readable symbols, comprising: at least onewearable image sensor having a field of view, the field of view moveableto selectively encompass respective portions of an environment withmovement of the at least image sensor, the at least one image sensorwhich in operation captures images of the respective portions of theenvironment within the field of view of the at least one image sensor; acontrol system that is communicatively coupled to the at least one imagesensor to receive signals representative of the images, the controlsystem configured to: detects an occurrence of a first gesture in theimages, the first gesture represented by a trace of a number ofmovements of a first finger mounted indicia; and in response todetection of the occurrence of the first gesture, triggers an at leastattempt at decoding one or more machine-readable symbols represented inthe images, wherein the first finger mounted indicia is at least a firstfinger mounted light source or at least a first finger mountedretro-reflector, and the at least one of processor-executableinstructions or data, when executed by the at least one processor, causethe at least one processor to: detect the first finger mounted lightsource or the first finger mounted retro-reflector in the images. 15.The system of claim 1 wherein the first finger mounted indicia is atleast a first finger mounted indicia that does not encode information.16-17. (canceled)
 18. The system of claim 1 wherein the control systemis further configured to: detect an occurrence of a second gesture inthe images, the second gesture represented by a trace of a number ofmovements of a second finger mounted indicia; and determine which of theplurality of defined functions is indicated by the gesture based atleast in part on one of the determined shape of the trace of the firstfinger mounted indicia or the determined shape of the trace of thesecond finger mounted indicia in the images.
 19. The system of claim 18wherein the control system is configured to determine which of theplurality of defined functions is indicated by the gesture based atleast in part on the determined shape of the trace of the first fingermounted indicia in combination with the determined shape of the trace ofthe second finger mounted indicia in the images. 20-22. (canceled) 23.The system of claim 1 wherein the control system is further configuredto: in response to detection of the occurrence of the first gesture,search a region of interest for one or more machine-readable symbols,the region of interest which is within the field of view of the at leastone wearable image sensor. 24-42. (canceled)
 43. The system of claim 1wherein the control system includes at least one processor and at leastone non-transitory processor-readable storage medium that stores atleast one of processor-executable instructions or data that, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processorto perform the plurality of defined functions.
 44. The system of claim 1wherein the plurality of defined functions includes adding arepresentation of an object associated with a detected machine-readablesymbol to a virtual basket or removing the representation of the objectassociated with the detected machine-readable symbol from the virtualbasket.
 45. The system of claim 44 wherein the plurality of definedfunctions includes requesting information regarding an object associatedwith a detected machine-readable symbol.
 46. The system of claim 1wherein the plurality of defined functions includes defining a remotehost to transmit captured, detected, and/or decoded information.